FIRST VALENTINE'S RED NIGHT

Brianna strolled lazily towards the window, fingering her auburn hair with one hand. She held the curtain away with the other so she could have a clear view of the dark street. All she could see was the dim reflections of the candle lights on the walls of the block of flats that lined the street. Soft music strayed into her ears. Her flat was the only one with electric lights on and no music playing. She had feared to light the candles for fear last year would repeat itself.

Dave had agreed to cancel all previous engagements just to make February 14th a special one, a memorable first valentine for her.

Eight. Diner was prepared. Candles lit. The room had been air freshened a dozen times. She had spent the whole morning browsing through her albums of soft blues and everything seemed ready to go after three long strenuous showers. She had everything in red – her dress, bangles, candles, hairgrip and everything else she could think fit – just because it was her favourite colour and that of love.

Some minutes after eight. The phone rang.

‘’Hello,’’ she said bluntly, half expecting to hear his sorry reply.

‘’Is this Brianna?’’ came the hoarse voice.

‘’Yes,’’ was her trembling reply.

‘’Inspector Mann speaking...’’

Her heart skipped a beat. What could have gone wrong? Had he been arrested? Involved in a fight or worse... an accident?

‘’Brianna, are you still there?’’

‘’Yes.’’

‘’He surely needs you now at the hospital.’’

So she spent last valentine’s night at the hospital with an unconscious lover to whom she rambled how much she loved him to.

Surely, it would not happen this time, she thought to herself as she left the curtain and glanced at the room. Everything still looked perfect. The air freshener still lingered in the air. The candles stood like soldiers on attention, ready to be lit. The food might probably be getting cold now. She checked herself again. Her dress fit perfectly. The green flowery patterns on the white dress matched the colour of her eyes. She had made sure not to include red in the colour combination but completely forgot that she had her red hairgrip in her hair.

The phone rang. She looked at her watch. Eight twenty – two. Almost the same time Inspector Mann called last year. Her heart missed a beat. What could have possibly gone wrong now? She picked the phone with quivering fingers. All she could hear was the silent waves transmitting and a steady breathing. She couldn’t find her tongue.

‘‘Bri, are you there?’’ Dave finally said after what seem like an endless wait.

‘’Dave, I was worried sick,’’ she said finally regaining herself, ‘’where the hell have you been?’’

‘’Just tidying up some loose ends here at work. Would be with you in a jiffy.’’

‘’You sure?’’

‘’You bet.’’

‘’Drive safely.’’

She hung up hurriedly and dashed into the shower. The cold scattered sprays stung her passionately. It bit her delicate skin so tenderly that she almost passed into an orgasm. Only a matter of time before she rode down that lane of excruciating pain and sensational pleasure for the first time. She had dreamt of the balcony, having the starry heavens as the only covering when Dave sparks off the starry sensuality in her eyes. It would be the romantic first valentine’s night in her life.

It was ten when she finally got out of the shower and got dressed. No sign of Dave yet. Should she call him? No, don’t be anxious. He might take advantage of that, she said to herself. But what if he was stuck in traffic. Saturday nights in L.A were always worse and pretty dangerous too. She had to find out if he was okay. She picked up the phone and dialled. His number wasn’t going through. She was beginning to feel hungry and sat down to eat. She caroused lazily the food like a spoilt overly pampered brat and succeeded in taking only four spoons in an hour.

She picked the candles, returning them into the drawers. The food was emptied into the bin. Her dress slipped off as she crawled under the blanket, sobbing. Amidst the sobs she did not hear Dave drive into the garage or his brisk footsteps hurrying against the marble floor. Her sleepy eyes could not even imagine that he was already entering the lift.

Maybe tonight would not end so badly. Maybe the dark clouds still have a silver lining after all. Maybe...

Electricity was cut off. The lift stopped midway and none of this she saw because she was sleeping like a log.

Quarter to twelve. Electricity restored. Lift springs back to life. Everywhere was silent. Nothing moved. It was like everything in the world had been stilled except for Dave’s steady footsteps and Brianna’s soft breathing.

He placed the bouquet beside her and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She stirred, opened her eyes and shut them.

‘’I hope I am not too late.’’

‘’Valentine’s Day is over,’’ she said sleepily.

‘’I am sorry, honey. I would make it up to you, I promise.’’

‘’Just leave me alone.’’

She passed her hand through her hair and felt the hairgrip in it. A sudden rush engulfed her. As Dave was about planting a kiss on her forehead, she thrust the hairgrip in his heart. She could feel the red of his blood on her tightly clenched hands, then on her stomach. It must be as red as the hairgrip. Tears could not help but stream down her groggy eyes as she gazed into dying Dave’s eyes. He smiled back at her.

‘’It is really nice to die in the arms of your love on a valentine’s night’’, he said before digging his cold head into her chest.

‘’I am sorry.’’

And the clock ticked twelve.

WORD COUNT
980.